Well-elevator



E. C. WILSON. I WELL ELEVATOR. MPLICATION FILED JAN.21 1909. RENEWEDMAR. I. 1912.

;1L',T314,996.. Patented Sept. 2, 1919.

ELIHU G. WILSUN, OF BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA.

WELL-ELEVATOR.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, ram.

Application filed January 2, 1909, Serial No. 470,536. Renewed March '7.1912. Serial No. 682,084.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, Eninu C. l VILsoN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Bakersfield, in the county ofKern and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Veil-Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to well elevators and more particularly toelevators for handling casings, tubings, sucker rods and other elementsand apparatus involved in the drilling, operation and maintenance of oiland other wells; and it has for its object to provide 1 an improvedelevator of the general characterization above designated, which will besuperior in point of relative inexpensiveness and simplicity ofconstruction. durability, positiveness and efficiency in operation,resistance to the stresses inci dent to use and operation, and generalservicea-bility.

In elevators heretofore designed for service within the general fieldabove defined,

numerous defects and weaknesses appear obviating the proper degree ofserviceability and etliciency required of such a device or mechanism,and preventing a proper degree of ease and facilityof control andmanipulation. A particular objection to such structures of priorproduction lies in the torsion to which the respective members aresubjected by the load. resulting in wear and breaking down of theworking parts as well as injurious impingement of the elevator membersupon the load. Another objection resides in the difficulties incident tothe attachment of the elevator to and detachment of the elevator fromthe load. Furthermore, in case of breakage .of or derangement of certainsuspension members comprised within the elevator, ready and convenientrepair is found impossible, and

consignment of the elevator to the workshop is necessitated to that end.

Certain features of this invention relate more particularly to hoists ingeneral, and the same are disclosed and claimed in another applicationfor United States patent divided out of the present case, suchapplication having been executed April 1914.

\Vith the above initially stated objects in view, as well as the objectof overcoming and obviating the objections. and weaknesses andinefficiencies last recited. the invention con sists in the novelprovision. construction, combination. association. relative arrangementand formation of parts, members and features, all as hereinafterdescribed, shown in the drawing and finally pointed out in claims.

In the drawing Figure l is a side elevation of a casing elevatorembodying the invention, a portion of a casing being shown as connectedtherewith prior to its insertion to or removal from a well; and theelevator being shown in Working connection with hoisting means;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the essential features of the invention,being a reproduction of a portion of the showing of Fig. 1 upon anenlarged scale; and,

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of essential features of the same, thelatter being shown in disassembled relations.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same referencecharacters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing, the improved elevatorcomprises broadly, clam-ping and holding means A and suspension means Btherefor; the latter serving to support the former in connection withhoisting means C which latter are not' concerned in the issues of theinvention and may be of any preferred and suitable type. The inventionresides in the formation, arrangement and connection of the members andelements of the clamping and holding means and the suspension means, theformer comprising two clamping and holding members a and b,respectively, and the latter comprising two suspension members c and (Z.respectively. The clamping and hold ing member a may be designated theworking body of the means A, and the member 7) may be designated theconfining body of the means A; the parts and features hereinafterdescribed and shown in the drawing being auxiliary to the members a andb and the suspension members a and (Z, all of the same cooperating andbeing interrelated to the ends of stress-resistance, rigidity andworking efiiciency. I

The bodies a and b are detachably united by connection means 6 whichpermit relative movement of the same; securing means f being providedfor maintaining. the members a and b in predetermined relative positionswith relation to the load 9; as. for engaging and sustaining the load.The suspension members 0 and l are connected directly with the member/o.the weight of the load being imposed upon said suspension means directlythrough the agency of said member a. h and 7c designate confiningmembers positioned with respect to the suspension members 0 and d, andwhereby the latter members are maintained in operative connection withthe member a; said confining members it and k being preferably detachedfrom the member a.

whereby a substantially circular passage 8 is formed vertically,transversely of the clamping and holding means A, and designed for thereception of the load 9. The matenial of which the portion 7 is composedmay be thinner or of less mass than that of which the portion 4 iscomposed, the portion 4 supporting the major portion of the load. Theconnection means 6 are applied to one end of the bowed or curved portion7, and the securing means f to the other end thereof. The suspensionmembers 0 and (Z are applied to the end extensions 5 and 6,respectively, of the bowed or curved portion 4, which also respectivelyaccommodate the confining members it and 7c. 7

In the preferred construction in which the curved portions 4 and 7 unitein the forma tion of a circular passage 8, the portion 4 includes themajor portion of such circular formation being more than semi-circular,the portion 7 being consequently less than semi-circular; and of asemi-circular formation' so constituted, the common plane within whichthe extensions 5 and 6 lie co incides substantially with the plane of adiameter of the circular passage 8. The con nection means 6 and securingmeans f are arranged at one side of the plane last referred to and in aplane coincident with the chord of an are less than a semi-circle inextension.

The connection means 6 comprises two lugs 9 and 10, respectively,projecting from the body a substantially at the line of junction of theextension 6 and the central portion 4; combined with a lug 11 formed atone end of the curved portion 7 of the member I); and a headed pin orpintle 12 passing through holes or openings 13 and 14, respectively, inthe lugs 9 and 10 and a registering hole or opening 15 in the lug 11.The securing means 7 comprises two lugs 16 and 17, respectively,projecting from the opposite end of the curved portion 7 in combinationwith an outwardly projecting hookshaped lug 18 formed upon or connectedwith the body a and projecting therefrom substantially at the line ofjunction between the central curved portion 4 and the extensiori 5,together with a key or wedge 19 adapted to be passed between the lugs 16and 17 and the lug 18; said key or wedge preferably having an angularextension 20 between which and the outer surface of the curved portion 7extends a chain 21 or other suitable attaching means. The lug 18 is soarranged with respect to the lugs 16 and 17 that the key or wedge 19bears against the lug 16 above and against the lug 17 below said lug 18,firmly holding the members a and 6 against opening; and effectuallyopposing and neutralizing, substantially from top to bottom of themembers a and b, stresses having the tendency to force the members openor torsionally affect them and the connection means 6 thereof.Zdesignates secondary holding means with which the members a and 7) areprovided, being adapted and devisedfor the transmission to the member aof the weight of the load imposed upon the member I); acting to that endwith the lugs 10 and 11, respectively, upon the member a and the memberZ).

The holding means Z comprise abutments 22 and 23, respectively formedupon or connected with the member a inward of the )laue of the hi 18 andal'ra-n od substan- 9 tially in the line of junction of the portion 4and extension 5 of the body a; in combination with the lugs 16 and 17which are arranged for imposition respectively upon the lugs 22 and 23when the members a and b are in relative positions permitting operationof the securing means f by the insertion of the key or wedge 19 betweenthe lug l8 and the lugs 16 and 17; and said holding means Z furtherinclude a member 0 consisting of an. angular recess in the bowed orcurved portion 7 of the member 7), adjacent to the lug 17, the upperportion of which recess is flush witlrthe lower portion of the lug 17and is adapted to seat upon the abutment 23.

The suspension members 0 and (Z comprise each a closed link 24,preferably metallic, the lower. end portions 25 of which are designedfor engagement with the extensions 5 and 6 of the body a, and the upperend portions 26 of which are designed and adapted for engagement by thehoisting means C ora book 27 included therein. The links 21 arepreferably laterally bent so that their upper end portions 26 mutuallyapproach or converge, arching in totality above the members a and 7).Each of the links 24 is engaged with one of the extensions 5 and 6bypassing the same through a longitudinal slot 28 formed therein into acurved seat 29 constituting the inner termination of such slot, each of,the end extensions 5 and 6 being in this manner bifurcated as shownclearly in Fig. 3.

Latc es The confining members it and k respectively close the slots 28,when in operative positions, and complete substantially circularformations of the seats 29, each of said members it. and Z; comprisesablock 30 fitting between the two portions of the bifurcated structure ofeach of the respective extensions 5 and (5. The blocks 30 are held inoperative positions by securing devices such as headed bolts 31. each ofwhich passes through holes or openings 32 and 33, respectively, in therespective bifurcated extensions 5 and (3 and likewise through aregistering hole or opening 34; in the respective block 30. Asuitablenut 35 is applied to each bolt 31.

The upper surfaces of the members a and I), or at least of the .curvedor bowed portions 4: and '2' of the same, are preferably plain andsmooth and adapted for the reception of the collar 36 of the casing 37constituting the load g, or for the reception of any substituted part inadaptation of the elevator to other work than that specificallyillustrated.

The operation, method of use and advantages of the improved wellelevator constituting the invention, will be understood from theforegoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and the following statement:

With the parts in the relative positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawing and ready for the reception of the load, such as the well casing37 the members a and b are relatively moved upon the connection means 6,which act as a hinge,the securing means 7 being first manipulated tothat end by the withdrawal of the key or Wedge 19 from its positionamong the lugs 16 and 17 and the abutment 22 and the lug .18. The curvedportion 1 of the member a is then passed into engagement with the loadand beneath the collar 36 of the casing 37, and the collar 36 is broughtto bear firmly upon the upper surface of the curved portion 4. Thememher I) is then swung against the member a, upon the connection means0, the upper surface of the curved portion 7 passing under the collar36;,and the key or wedge 19 is passed between the lugs 16 and 17 and thelug 18, firmly holding the members a and b in operative positions. Thecollar 36 is not firmly set upon the member a in practice.

- until the member 6 is manipulated as last described; and thereupon thecollar 36 is imposed upon the members a and b at the upper surfaces ofthe portions 4 and 7 thereof.

All the weight of the load is transmitted j :to the suspension members 0and (Z through co the extensions 5 and 6 of the member a; that portionof the weight of the load imposed upon the member 7) being transmittedfirst to the member a through the lugs 10 and 11 of the connection means6 and the'lugs 16 and 17 and 22 and 23 and the wall of the recess meansare in operative position.

constituting the holding means member 0 of the secondary holding meansZ. A single rigid structure, namely the body a, thus transmits theweight of the load directly to the suspension means B, and the tendencyof the two members of the clamping and hold ing means A to buckle underthe weight of the load, as in other similar devices and mechanism, isobviated. Perfect alinement and working conditions respecting andaffecting the two members a and Z) are maintained, due to rigidity ofthe member a and the transmission of all load weight imposed upon'themember '1) tothe. member a and thence to the suspension means B. Itresults, that the etliciency and operativeness of the connection means 6and the securing means f are not diminished or destroyed by any relativemovement between the members a and Z) due to the pressure upon saidmembers of the weight of the load; and the ma nipulation of the memberI) to swing the same upon the connection means 6 away from the member afor the release of the load, is not opposed by any distort-ion of orinterference with the connection means 6 and the securing means f ortheir proper functions.

The obviation of any possibility of spring or play of the clamping andholding means A prevents the impingement of the clamping members a and1), upon the casing with (3011' sequent injury to and weakening of thelatter. Furthermore, the load can in no way foul the securing means f soas to cause the inadvertent manipulation of the same during operation.

The connectionof the suspension means B wvith but one of the clampingmembers,

namely, a, and independently of the connection means 6 and the securingmeans f, permits of connection of the load with, and dis connection of,the load from the clamping and holding means A while the suspensionFurth ermore, due to the relative arrangement of parts described, thesecuring means 7' may be manipulated to free the member I), while thecollar 36 of the casing is resting upon the uppersurface of the memberc,obviating the necessity of lowering the elevator so as to space the samefrom the collar of the casing before the securing means 7' can beinaniprr lated to permit the removal of the elevator from the load.

The detachable feature of the suspension members 0 and (l, by theaccommodation to that end of the confining member h and in. enablesrepair and substitution of the links 2% with facility and without injuryto any of the parts of the elevator.

I donot desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specificprovision. construction, formation and association of parts. members andfeatures shown and described;

but reservei the right to vary the same in adapting the improvements tovarying conditions of use without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1. An improved well elevator, comprising two relativelymovable clamping and holding members, connection means for said members,and securing means and secondary holding means for said members; saidsecuring means and said secondary holding means comprising jointly twoabutments and a hook-shaped lug upon one of said members, and two lugsupon the other of said members and arranged to be imposed respectivelyupon said abutments; said member having a recess which receives one ofsaid abutments; and a. device adapted for insertion between said lugsand one of said abutments and said hook-shaped lug.

2. An improved well elevator, comprising two relatively movable clampingand holding members, connection means for said members, and securingmeans for said mem bers; said securing means comprising a lug upon oneof said members and two lugs upon the other of said members respectivelyin planes above and below said first-named lug; and a device adapted forinsertion between said two lugs and said other lug.

3. An improved well elevator, comprising two relatively movable clampingand holdlng members, connection means for said members, and securingmeans and secondary holding means for said members; said securing meansand said secondary holding means comprising jointly two abutments and ahook-shaped lug upon one of said members, and two lugs upon the other ofsaid members and arranged respectively in planes above and beneath saidhook-shaped lug and arranged to be imposed respectively upon saidabutments; said member having said lugs being provided with a recesswhich receives one of said abutments; and a device adapted for insertionbetween said lugs and one of said abutments and said hookshaped lu 4.Improvements of the character disclosed, comprising two relativelymovable clamping and holding members having a hinge connection andcapable of be ng opened or closed at such hinge connection when a pipeis between the same, suspension means connected with one only of theclamping members, and securing means whereby said members are heldtogether In working said lugs being provided with relation; said memberwith which said suspension means are connected being provided with anabutment upon which is seated the swinging end of the other clampingmember.

55. In improvements of the character disclosed, two relatively movableclamping and holding members, suspension means connected with only oneof said members and at both ends thereof, connection means nected at oneend and adapted to be swung apart sufiiciently to receive a well casing,

suspension means connected with only one of the clamping members and attwo points of the same, an abutment upon the member with which thesuspension means are connected and upon which is seated the swinging endof the other member, and a locking .device for securing said members ina closed position and applied to the same remote from the bore andindependent of the upper surfaces of the clamping members whereby saidlocking device may be manipulated when a load is. imposed upon suchupper surfaces.

7 A casing elevator 01'' the character disclosed, comprising tworelatively movable clamping members which are hingedly connected at oneend and capable of being opened with a well casing in position betweenthe clamping members, suspension means connected with only one of saidmembers and at diametrically opposite points thereof, an abutment uponthe member with which the suspension means are connected and upon whichis seated the swinging end of the other member, and a locking deviceapplied slidably in a direction parallel with the axis of the borebetween the clamp-ing members and at a point remote from the bore andindependent of the upper surfaces of the clamping members whereby thelocking device may be manipulated when a load is imposed upon such uppersurfaces.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIHU C. lVILSON.

l/Vitnesses H. I. TUPMAN, WV. W. VERNER.

